Working outside of a purely academic setting was also an enlightening part of students’ experiences. In his internship with the Geologica Geothermal Group, Shashwat Maharjan noted the different paces of academia and industry. “Understanding geothermal energy from books is one thing, but actually working in the field is a whole different experience,” he shared. “In industry, everything moves quickly, focused on delivering a tangible product.” Santiago Rabade, who interned with Zanskar Geothermal & Minerals, Inc., observed another distinction between the two worlds: “Although academia and industry [both] strive to get the best result possible, the incentives and goals differ.” (You can read more about Rabade’s experience in his Spanish-language interview with Telemundo Utah). Asenath Kwagalakwe found a good fit for her internship at Minaean SP Construction Corp., which was collaborating with Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development on exploring for geothermal resources in the Katwe-Kikorongo Volcanic Field. She notes that her internship experience was an education in both applying her research field and understanding how business and governmental perspectives intertwine in geothermal projects.
Geothermal People Rock!
Every student in the cohort talked about the benefits of rubbing shoulders with bright, dedicated colleagues in the geothermal industry. Justin Tully and Prabhav Borate both called out the pragmatic benefits of gaining access to professional networks and insight on what career pathways fit students’ skillsets. But students also note relational benefits in directly experiencing the warmth, generosity, and passion of the people working in this field.
Maharjan found it humbling to be “surrounded by incredible individuals who have paved the way for today’s geothermal advancements.” He wasn’t observing their work from the outside looking in; his colleagues welcomed him in and invested in him: “I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with two exceptional mentors during my time at Geologica Geothermal Group. They’ve not only accelerated my learning curve within the field but have also generously welcomed even my most basic inquiries.”
Pradhan, who interned with PNNL because he was amazed by its geothermal team, found that team to be successful not only because of their technical prowess, but also because of their communication and teamwork. “What stood out most was the direct real-world application of the research conducted at PNNL and the impressive structure of the teams working collaboratively to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” he shared. “In terms of their impact, these laboratories are nothing short of transformative. They are at the forefront of scientific research, driving forward technological advancements, and taking on monumental global challenges such as clean energy and climate change.”
John Acevedo likewise saw the power of collaboration in action at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), where he witnessed different departments reaching out to make use of each other’s expertise and push the boundaries of their experiments. He also found a workplace he wants to be a part of in the future:
